驷马难追

駟馬難追
sìmǎ-nánzhuī
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 even a team of four horses can't catch it
  2. 2 a word once spoken cannot be taken back

Examples

HSK 7-9
Shuōhǎo le jiù bù néng fǎnhuǐ, yìyán-jìchū, sìmǎ-nánzhuī.
Once it's agreed you can't back out: a word once spoken can't be taken back.
HSK 7-9
Tā pāi zhe xiōngpú shuō: " Jūnzǐ yìyán, sìmǎ-nánzhuī! "
He thumped his chest and said, "A gentleman never goes back on his word!"

Tips

usage
The second half of 一言既出,驷马难追 or 君子一言,驷马难追, said when making a firm promise: once a word is out, not even a four-horse chariot can catch it.
history
驷 is a team of four horses pulling one chariot, the fastest thing on an ancient road. The idea is already in the 论语: 驷不及舌 "a team of four cannot overtake the tongue".

Stroke Order

驷 sì
马 mǎ
难 nán
追 zhuī